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JOYCE THELMA GOMER
January 3, 1925 ~ May 19, 2015
Joyce Thelma Gomer, 90, unexpectedly, but peacefully, passed away May 19, 2015 at Harrisburg City Hospital, Harrisburg, PA. She was born in Avon, SD Jan. 3, 1925. Joyce moved in 1935 to Bend, OR with her parents; Clifton C. Berry, Viola M. (Farrell) Berry and brothers, W. Russ Berry and Roger Berry; all whom pre-deceased her. The family moved to Portland, OR in 1942. Joyce graduated from Grant High School in 1943.
She later attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA where she studied music.
Joyce married Donald M. Gomer of Bend, OR Nov. 30 1947, and lived in various towns in Washington. They were divorced in 1961, and Joyce moved to Vancouver, WA with her sons, Marcus D. and Curtis L. Gomer.
In Vancouver, Joyce taught piano lessons and ultimately retired from Kamlu Retirement Inn.
Joyce was a member of Trinity Life Center, a Foursquare Church in Vancouver until October of 2004, when she moved to Harrisburg, PA to be closer to her son, Curtis and daughter-in-law, Donna. In retirement, Joyce lived at the Manor at Oakridge where she enjoyed a quiet life being with friends, participating in church and bible study programs, attending music programs, and listening to Talking Books for the Blind.
Joyce is loved and survived by son, Curtis and daughter-in-law, Donna of Brodbecks, PA; granddaughter, Brittani Crawford and three great-grandchildren, all of Spokane WA; sisters-in-law, Beverly Berry and Adeline Berry; two cousins; as well as many nieces and nephews, all of whom reside in the Pacific Northwest.
She was preceded in death by her son, Marcus, in Nov. 2014.
A memorial service and burial will be held Thurs., May 28th, 10a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Gardens Chapel and Cemetery, 1101 NE 112th Ave., Vancouver.
Contributions may be made in Joyce's name to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 or the Library for the Blind, Free Library of Philadelphia, 919 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Please sign her guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
God bless you all. Joan and I send our love to you. I wish I could be there for the service but I am away, but my wife will be there.
Joyce was a faithful member of the Foursquare church that I pastored in East Vancouver for nearly 25 years. We loved her and she was a dear friend of ours and especially to my mother in law, Oma Janssen. I remember taking the seniors on many outings in our church van and we would sing the old hymns of the church. She loved that and those outings. Much love from Ron and Joan Hamrick
Ron & Joan Hamrick
May 26, 2015
I am Joyce's brother Roger's daughter. Aunt Joyce was a very kind and loving aunt. I have saved some of the handwritten notes she has sent me over the years. She loved to get our Christmas cards with pictures of my children. I will always remember her as a sweet and loving human being who coped with adversity and loved her sons, parents, and brothers dearly. I truly admired her love of God and family. My father loved teasing his sister a little and making her laugh. She was always so good to my mother after my dad passed away, and they enjoyed sending cards and letters and talking occasionally on the phone. She was a role model in my life. My condolences to Curt and Donna. You took such good care of your mom. Love, Diane Berry Fraser
May 25, 2015
I must admit I did not enjoy the piano lessons at the time. But learning to read music was a very good thing. I can still play "Dancing on the Dike", the piece Mrs. Gomer had picked for me for a recital. Once, while having dinner with the Gomers, I spilled my milk twice within minutes. I was so embarrassed but she made me feel at ease. An odd memory, I know but a real one. R.I.P. Sincerely, Keith Dahl. 'neighbor kid"/student.
Keith Dahl
May 25, 2015
My friend as Joyce would call me... will be truly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. I am thankful for the time and memories that we shared. My deepest sympathies to her family at this difficult time.
KIM HURLOCK
May 24, 2015
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